at most only hinted at in accredited top diplomats from EU member States generally recognize the, if you to the German politics don’t like something. Only if you see elemental national or European interests are threatened, they are clearer, as now the French Ambassador Anne-Marie Descôtes. You have the impression “that the German export control system is not restrictive, but unpredictable,” said the diplomat in a working paper of the Federal Academy for security policy. The procedure from lessons seems to be especially “at the current German domestic policy” and have “serious consequences for our bilateral cooperation in the field of defence”.
in fact, Descôtes was also a party in the dispute between the Union and the SPD in order to adapt to the strict German arms export policies in line with European Standards and the extension of the arms moratorium for Saudi Arabia. The Union, compromises with respect to the export regulations with regard to European cooperation, is willing to and wants to lift the ban on Exports to the Gulf country. The SPD wants to block exports for the next six months and refuses to relaxations of the Standards strictly. Today, Wednesday the national security Council, according to information from the coalition to decide whether the Export ban will be extended. Since the Union wants to stay hard, could come to an end the Moratorium without a new decision.
The Union leadership is determined not to hide the arms export issue in the election campaign. The common election program of the CDU and the CSU are already in the title of the direction: Under the Motto “Our Europe”, the focus is on “peace, security and prosperity”. The Union parties are committed to increased European military and armaments cooperation. “Our Europe, thus avoiding unnecessary expenditure is to be gained, a better defense capability and developed a step-by-step to a common security culture, as well as common European arms export policies,” it says. These guidelines are not quite sure of the strict German requirements, stress from Chancellor Angela Merkel down all the Union politicians; but without compromise there can be no European cooperation.
Stegner: “We want to areas of no arms exports to crisis”
The SPD is in for the fight announcement is welcomed. “If in Europe the election campaign, the differences between the Union and the SPD to be clear, this is a good thing,” said party Vice Ralf Stegner, the daily mirror: “We want no arms exports to crisis regions and dictatorships, the Union wants to supply the Regime of Saudi Arabia.” The SPD see European responsibility “in yesterday’s banks and upgrading of Union, but in a acting together for a social Europe, which takes its own peace policy initiatives”.
Ambassador Descôtes has warned that French and European companies, because of increasing difficulties. German components to be included in a product, and it be seals or ball bearings, so the companies would have to wait more than a year on a German export licence. The parents, under certain circumstances, high penalties, and the loss of further orders. Against this Background, more and more “companies to dispense with German components, decided,” wrote the Ambassador.
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“if this Trend continues, that would have serious and lasting consequences for our abilities to the approach of the company and for the implementation of joint programs.” This could in the short term, the “autonomy of Europe” at risk. Descôtes called for a so-called De-minimis-rule, – then only the country would decide on an arms export, making the most of the product in question. The current Situation with a “right of veto” for Germany, even if it is only the use “of a switch from German production”, was “simply untenable”.